On the mantelpiece in Louise Crawley's sitting room are two horse-head sculptures. They are symbols, she explains, of hope for a good marriage. “In Indian mythology, the horse represents good luck, as the groom always rides one to the marriage ceremony.”
These horses remind Louise of her travels. She has spent much of her life abroad, including teaching English in Japan and helping her mother build a house in Turkey. Now she is settled in her Victorian home in south-east London with her husband, Tom, and daughter, Daisy, five, and has achieved something that might seem impossible – village life just 15 minutes from central London.

“This is where I walk Daisy to school,” says Louise, pointing in the direction of a small church perched on the edge of the heath, surrounded by elegant Georgian houses. The setting could not be more idyllic and yet Canary Wharf, where Tom works, is not too far away. Building the house in Turkey prepared Louise for the work she undertook on her own London home. “There was a lot of trial and error involved, which saved me from making mistakes here.”

The changes that Louise and Tom made to the previously untouched Victorian house were dramatic, but essential to make the open-plan family home they desired. Louise wanted a light, modern look that was not too cool. It also had to be comfortable and child-friendly. “I love white walls – which create the perfect background – clean lines and lack of clutter, but I also love to have Daisy's things scattered around and things to be out of place.”

Now Daisy has her own play area in the huge contemporary kitchen designed by architect Michael Phillips. Folding glass doors along one wall give access to the garden, where white walls, decking and a grove of bamboo and evergreen foliage make it feel enclosed in its own world.

On the upper floors, Louise has softened the mood. A subtle and restful lilac hue bathes the rooms, while pale textured fabrics and cushions dress oversized sofas, including the glamorous Gustavian-style sofa in the main bedroom. Louise is fond of Scandinavian style with its pale shades and white painted wood and her enthusiasm has led her to paint tables, lamp bases and even the rabbit hutch white.

Louise was delighted to find that the previous owners had carved their initials on the wooden fireplace before they left. Of course, she painted the fireplace white, but made sure the carvings, a little piece of the house's history, were left visible. So will Louise be carving her initials on the fireplace like her predecessors? “Absolutely,” she replies, “but not for a while.” "

WORDS PHILIPPA RONALD
STYLING LUCY BERRIDGE
PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREW WOOD
SEPTEMBER 2004